UK police raise specter of 3-D printer-made guns

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The U.S. State Department banned the inventor of a plastic handgun, "The Liberator," from distributing its instructions.

Story highlights

Police say more testing is needed after doubts are raised over suspected gun parts

Police said they found a 3-D printer along with a suspected 3-D plastic magazine and trigger

Police are questioning a man arrested on suspicion of making gunpowder

A Texan student was made to take down online instructions for printing a handgun this summer

Police in England said Friday they have seized what could be the parts for Britain's first firearm made using 3-D printing -- but later said more testing is needed to establish if this is the case.

An initial news release from Greater Manchester Police said officers had found "a 3D printer and what is suspected to be a 3D plastic magazine and trigger which could be fitted together to make a viable 3D gun" when they searched locations Thursday in the Baguley area, near Manchester in northwest England.

But after doubts were raised, the force released a second statement stressing that the parts were still being examined.

"We need to be absolutely clear that at this stage, we cannot categorically say we have recovered the component parts for a 3D gun," Assistant Chief Constable Steve Heywood said.

"What we have seized are items that need further forensic testing by national ballistics experts to establish whether they can be used in the construction of a genuine, viable firearm.

"We will also be conducting a thorough analysis of computers we have recovered to establish any evidence of a blueprint on how to construct such a weapon."

In his statement, Heywood said the seizure had prompted discussion around the potential threats posed by 3-D printing.

"Clearly the fact we have seized a 3D printer and have intelligence about the possible production of a weapon using this technology is of concern. It (is) prudent we establish exactly what these parts can be used for and whether they pose any threat," he said.

"What this has also done is open up a wider debate about the emerging threat these next generation of weapons might pose."

Printing instructions

Others have also raised concerns about the potential for 3-D printing to be used to create weapons.

The group's founder, Cody Wilson, had posted a video online showing a single shot being fired from "The Liberator," a plastic handgun that, with the exception of a metal firing pin and a piece of metal included to comply with the Undetectable Firearms Act, was assembled entirely from parts made with a 3-D printer.

Wilson complied with the order, but not before the design had been downloaded more than 100,000 times.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London subsequently acquired two models of the Liberator pistol, which were put on display last month as part of a design exhibition.